And thank you for the encouraging comments (and emails) regarding my writing or music dilemma. I won’t rush into anything and I don’t plan to stop blogging either. God will show me the path where I can be the most effective.

Mini-Alex!

Yes, he arrived on Thursday and in one piece. Elise, thank you SO MUCH for sending him. Now that he’s here, I am really impressed by how much effort you put into making him look awesome. And he’s bigger than I thought!

Here is Mini-Alex between two of my guitars. Safe to say, he will not be playing those anytime soon. Doubt I will be able to top Paris, but I might have to take Mini-Alex on a road trip.See what kind of trouble we can get into...

Ninja News

Candilynn Fite has an agent! She is now represented by Ms. Kathleen Rushall from Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Congratulations, Candilynn!

Melissa Maygrovehad an awesome post on Wednesday listing ways we can motivate ourselves to write. Some good stuff, so check it out!

An insightful look at the good and bad that exist within us, McKendry's debut is a high-octane adventure that pushes the imagination to the limit as it lays bare the nature of self-reliance, self-confidence, and teamwork. Playing with the concepts of dark and light and how they affect our lives in multiple forms, her novel is a complex coming of age story that encapsulates the heroine's journey from student to leader. A dark tale of love and revenge, From the Ashes is a powerful reminder to think for yourself instead of blindly following what you've been taught to believe.

Available next month – congratulations, Jessica!

NFL Super Bowl Predictions

With the final week of the regular season mathematically eliminating a dozen teams including my own (no I’m not naming them – they didn’t deserve to go anyway) and ending on a good note (anytime the Cowboys lose, it’s a good note) we slide into the playoffs this weekend. A couple teams are suspect and a couple could surprise us.

My predictions for who will go to the Super Bowl:

From the AFC – Either Broncos or the Patriots. Denver has played good all season but you can’t count out the Patriots.

From the NFC – Either the 49ers or Seahawks. The 49ers just might be for real, but of all the teams, the Seahawks are the most dangerous right now and on a roll.

And if my predictions were any bit accurate, you could take me to Vegas!

I wouldn’t pack my bags if I were you…

January 2013 Movies

Here are the upcoming movies for January! A quiet month, as it tends to be the dumping grounds for movies. As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

The Last Stand
The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
Director: Jee-woon Kim
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eduardo Noriega, Forest Whitaker, John Patrick Amedori Ridiculous and over the top. Schwarzenegger is way too old to do this anymore.

Broken City
An ex-cop trailing the wife of New York City's mayor finds himself immersed in a larger scandal.
Director: Allen Hughes
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kyle Chandler Crowe plays a jerk – another big surprise! And this one could be good as well.

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Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters
In this dark spin on the fairy tale, siblings Hansel and Gretel are a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Peter Stormare, Famke Janssen This movie will be either cheesy great or embarrassingly awful. Don’t think there will be an in-between.

John Dies at the End
A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?
Director: Don Coscarelli
Stars: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown From the director of Bubba Ho-Tep and probably just as weird.

Were you encouraged by the IWSG posts this week? See some interesting announcements? Who do you predict will go to the Super Bowl? Any movies look enticing? And where on the east coast could Mini-Alex go?

I wouldn't count out my beloved Colts just yet. They have done nothing but surprise everybody all season long. What a story that would be for the Colts to have to face Peyton Manning in the AFC championship!

I didn't make in time for the IWSG. Maybe next month! I have goals of doing more writing and possibly even getting published this year. I could use all the help I can get!

Right now I'm still rooting for RG III! and I just saw a trailer for a new Wayan's brother movie Haunted House a funny spoof of Paranormal Activity that comes out this month. I am hoping to get to see it while it is in theaters!

I grew up in Pittsburgh during the "one for the thumb" era of Bradshaw and company. But I've lived in Colorado for 28 years, married to a native. Go Broncos. (Because any other declaration will move me to the couch.)

OMG!! The 49'rs may actually get to the Super Bowl???? My heart is racing. That's my team and I have not heard from them since Joe Montana, I think. Ah, but I have forbidden to watch any of their games. There is the belief I jinx the one I cheer for ever since I cheered for the Patriots in their nearly perfect season and they lost. Have not been able to break that curse yet.

Congratulations to everyone celebrating big news! It was a good month of IWSG. A positive way to start the new year. I had no idea about these movies coming out this month. I'm interested in John Dies at the End. If you see it, I'd love to hear the review. I'm a big Bubba Ho-Tep fan!

At my house, I'm a huge Broncos fan (have been since birth) and we both really like the Packers. Would be fun to see them in a Super Bowl together. I'm hoping the Packers learned a thing or two from their post-season last year and at least make it interesting.

I used to read the stories that went on to become the book John Dies at the End when the author was posting them on his comedy website. He would add to it every Halloween and it was crazy awesome. I'll have to see the movie just so I can finally contribute some money to David Wong (the author) in thanks for all the long hours working in a call center that his site made more bearable.

I've never heard of John Dies at the End, but all the rest I'm really looking forward to, especially Gangster Squad and The Last Stand. Problem is, I still haven't seen all the December movies yet! Dah! Hopefully I'll see at least one this weekend. :D Happy Friday, Alex!

Congratulations on everybody's good news, agent, covers, etc. It's a great way to start the year. I was feeling a bit guilty because I had to go to the city for supplies and didn't visit as many blogs as I wanted. I'll visit more today. But I still want more hours in a day... anybody???

So glad you aren't going anywhere, Alex. We need you! Generally I don't speak for others, but I'm going out on a limb here.

Super great news to hear you won't stop blogging! I seriously don't know what we'd do without you. O_O

Jessica, your cover is absolutely lovely! Great job and congrats. :)

Maybe it was because all of the New Year's goals and resolutions, but I've had a great time reading the IWSG posts this month. So much encouragement out there!

As I was at Roland's mention of my news, I am touched, so touched at all the heartfelt congrats folks have been leaving on my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And thank you, Alex, for always being there to mention, congratulate, and encourage all of us. You (and your adorable little Alex doll) rock!

Glad mini Alex arrived in one piece and I'm going to wait for reviews before I touch Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters, but it did catch my attention. We'd never want to see you stop blogging Alex and wish you all the best.

First you didn't enjoy "Bubba Ho-Tep"... kidding it was just fun Bruce Campbell. Hansel/Gretel... I love Gemma,she could read the dictionary and I would watch. It's a movie I will see via DVD, saving the money for TREK, IRON MAN... etc.

Arnold is going to reprise Conan... as "working title" King Conan... that would work for me.

Mini Alex should either ride the Rockin' Roller Coaster at Disney World, or visit the Statue of Liberty . . .or maybe see Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia? The Smithosonian? Go swimming with dolphins on the Florida coast? Lots of ideas . . .IWSG definitely encouraged me - there were tons of awesome posts!

And the Superbowl . . .I don't watch football normally, but since the Seahawks have a shot, I might watch a few games. I even watched the last Superbowl they made it into . . .and I'm sorry, but I'm still sure they were robbed on that last play by a bad call. However, the bad calls have gone their way from time to time . . so who knows?

And it will probably be a Broncos-Patriots battle for the AFC, but anything can happen. And I am rooting for the Seahawks. If the 49ers play like they did against the Seahawks last time, then they don't stand a chance. Of course, having a rookie QB on the Seahawks might hurt, since it is harder for a team with a rookie QB to make it not only to the playoffs but also to the Super Bowl.

I was sooo encouraged by the posts--thanks for creating the awesome IWSG:-) Have you ever heard of the Flat Stanley books? I'm a teacher and those are big--thousands of classrooms around the country have students make their own little mini me's to send to relatives/friends and learn about other places. You should totally start sending out your mini Alex and then people could keep him for a week and blog about their adventures with him and post pictures:-) Send him to me in SW Florida!! It's still in the 80s here, so he won't be cold~cheers

Wow, I can't believe how many are involved in IWSG! It's mind boggling. I tried to make it to all the blogs I follow and I think I succeeded this time. Now to spend some time hopping over to some new blogs to make some new friends.Love mini Alex! I think a road trip with him is definitely in order. ;)

I love IWSG Alex! The support and encouragement is incredible and it keeps me going! But what I really need is motivation to write. I'm so busy with family that it is incredibly hard to find time to actually write. Social media is so distracting, so I get nothing accomplished. IWSG is a great group and hopefully someday, we'll get all the members together and have a part-ay. Maybe one of us could plan a BloggerCon and wouldn't that be awesome! Because of you Alex, you've made writers get so close as friends and we get so close to you just as much! Thank you Ninja Captain!

I love the mini-Alex! He's so cute! Please take him on a road trip and post pictures! That would be a fun post!

I love IWSG Alex! The support and encouragement is incredible and it keeps me going! But what I really need is motivation to write. I'm so busy with family that it is incredibly hard to find time to actually write. Social media is so distracting, so I get nothing accomplished. IWSG is a great group and hopefully someday, we'll get all the members together and have a part-ay. Maybe one of us could plan a BloggerCon and wouldn't that be awesome! Because of you Alex, you've made writers get so close as friends and we get so close to you just as much! Thank you Ninja Captain!

I love the mini-Alex! He's so cute! Please take him on a road trip and post pictures! That would be a fun post!

Ok, that's just weird. I'm reading this and BOING! email notice that the Ninja has ALREADY been to my new post.Love your tagline about my bubble wrap!Hansel and Gretel ` I think you have that one pegged but I don't care either way!Tina @ Life is Goodhttp://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com

Hey, Alex. Happy New Year to you, sir. I'm coming off my traditional two week vacation, and I think you would be proud of me. Instead of planting myself on my laptop for the whole thing, I actually got out of the house and saw some films. We saw The Hobbit, Jack Reacher, Les Miserables and Lincoln. We also watched a bunch at home as well. As for football, all I could rightly predict was my Cowboys choking once again. Any chance Jones will fire himself as General Manager? Nah, I didn't think so either.Take care, man!

I'm still trying to catch up on movies released in November and December. January's movies I might see in March. Always behind.

Jessica's book sounds thoughtful and tempting. I'll bear it in mind.

As for the Broncos -- the excitement here in Denver is growing that we'll go to the Superbowl. Years ago I learned to drive stickshift by driving around on the streets of the city, which were completely empty because the Broncos were playing the Superbowl. This year, I'll just watch the game.

I bet Mini-Alex will have fun on a road trip. Road trips hold all kinds of mishap adventures...like flat tires.

I plan on seeing Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters soon as possible, and I hope it is cheesy great - because I've not seen a cheesy great movie in ages. (Also, it has Hawkeye in it...so I have a small bit of hope.)

I know, I know, you've been anxiously waiting for a comment from me. Sorry about the delay. All this multi-tasking is taking its toll.

I'm delighted the IWSG group is going so well and there were indeed some brilliant postings that I read. Even though I don't participate in groups, I was most happy to share the link on my blog for those who could find it of much benefit.

Don't have a clue who will win the Super Bowl. If logistics could work out, I think the Grey Cup champion should play the Super Bowl winner.

Anyway, my friend, thank you for sharing so much information. My head is spinning. Enjoy your weekend. I'm outta' here...

Now that it's GB vs 49ers, how do you feel? lol I pay very little attention to football, but my sister does. Apparently, they thought Minnesota was going to be a challenge, but this was a sad game. lol

I don't think I commented yet, but I am looking forward to Gangster Squad. Love my gangster flicks. :)I was royally ticked when they removed the trailer from theaters during The Dark Knight Rises. Being force fed kiddie trailers isn't going to make me feel safer at the theater. ;)

Mini Alex looks terrific next to those guitars. What a wonderful gift. :)

Super Bowl, I'll take Niners. I hate the Seahawks and their cheating coach, Pete Carroll.

I'd watch Russell Crowe in anything - I proved it by sitting thru Les Mis. Out of all of the trailers I've seen, the only ones that I'm REALLY looking forward to are Warm Bodies (new genre! - zombie chick flicks!) and World War Z. Although Hansel and Gretel is potentially a sohorribleyougottaseeit classic.

About Me

I'm a sci-fi writer on a journey of discovery - books, movies, music, games, and TV shows.
Founder of the Insecure Writer's Support Group and website.
I'm the author of Amazon Best Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm,